{"id":10753,"date":"2017-02-08T09:30:37","date_gmt":"2017-02-08T09:30:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/migqxjzty5-staging.onrocket.site\/blog\/?p=10753"},"modified":"2022-11-29T16:32:38","modified_gmt":"2022-11-29T16:32:38","slug":"5-amazing-job-tools-to-try-right-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/5-amazing-job-tools-to-try-right-now\/","title":{"rendered":"5 amazing job tools to try right now"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>Job searching can be tough, but there are plenty of tools out there to help you. Here, technology writer <strong>Gemma Church<\/strong> picks out five of the best tools to help job seekers take the next step on their career path: \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>In the noise of the online world, it seems impossible to stand out from the crowd when you\u2019re job hunting.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are so many tools promising to revolutionise your CV, boost your skills and find you the perfect job, but most aren\u2019t worth the virtual paper they\u2019re written on.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finding a job isn\u2019t as easy as uploading an app or sending off one CV to one employer. It takes time and persistence &#8211; but these tools could help you to streamline your job hunt and maximise your chances:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Create\/update your CV<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-10756\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/standard-resume-homepage-300x151.jpg\" alt=\"standard resume - homepage\" width=\"300\" height=\"151\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/standard-resume-homepage-300x151.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/standard-resume-homepage.jpg 647w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a first step on your job hunt, you\u2019ll need to brush off your CV. If you want to save some time, but still get a professional end product, <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/standardresume.co\/\">Standard Resume<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a great tool and it\u2019s free to use.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You just register for an account and import your LinkedIn profile to automatically create an online CV of your skills and experience.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The data from your LinkedIn profile is broken down to create this simple webpage, which you can further customise and share with potential employers.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Proofread, proofread and proofread again<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-10755\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/grammarly-300x188.png\" alt=\"grammarly\" width=\"300\" height=\"188\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/grammarly-300x188.png 300w, https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/grammarly-768x480.png 768w, https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/grammarly-1024x640.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/grammarly.png 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Next, check your CV is written properly. One riddled with typos and grammatical errors is the biggest gripe with employers, according to <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.independent.co.uk\/student\/career-planning\/getting-job\/employers-biggest-cv-hates-revealed-in-new-college-of-the-humanities-research-10507365.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">recent findings<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from the New College of the Humanities (NCH) where researchers interviewed more than 860 recruiters.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.grammarly.com\/\">Grammarly<\/a><\/strong> tool<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a great resource to highlight such mistakes. The free version of this tool automatically scans your work for more than 250 grammatical errors and also catches contextual spelling errors and poor vocabulary usage.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It works whenever you write online so, whether you\u2019re writing an email or your CV, it will let you know if you\u2019ve made a mistake. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you upgrade to the Professional version of this tool (for a fixed monthly fee), it is also available to use directly in Microsoft Office.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">First impressions count, so it could be a worthwhile investment.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Beat the paper sifting stage<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-10760\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/valuemycv-value-300x161.jpg\" alt=\"valuemycv by Adzuna - cv estimation tool - how much are you worth\" width=\"300\" height=\"161\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/valuemycv-value-300x161.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/valuemycv-value.jpg 763w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, your CV looks great and reads well. But can it be read by the software so many recruiters now use at the paper sift stage?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You could be consigning your CV to the virtual recycling bin unless you double check.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/try.adzuna.co.uk\/value-my-cv\/\">ValueMyCV<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a CV-scanning tool based around the same type of software that recruiters use, so it will make sure your CV passes this preliminary test. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That\u2019s not all. It will also use various data points contained in your CV to give you a salary expectation based on your skills and experience, as well as the current market conditions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s incredibly easy to use. You just upload your CV and, within a few seconds, your information has been processed to provide an estimate of the salary you should command. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s also linked to the Adzuna job search engine so, once the CV scan is complete, you get a handful of recommended jobs, as well as a \u201cskills cloud\u201d and a one-line summary of your CV.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These features are useful on two fronts. First, you know your value. The skills cloud and salary estimate give you a clear idea of the type of job and salary to aim for.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Second, it highlights flaws in your CV. It will catch red flags such as unexplained gaps in your timeline that could turn potential employers off. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is unique compared to other salary estimate services. It gives you a full picture of how recruiters will read and analyse your CV, so you know it will be seen by the right people and you have the best chance of getting the salary you deserve.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Manage your job search<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-10757\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/trello-on-desktop-computer-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"trello on desktop computer\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/trello-on-desktop-computer-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/trello-on-desktop-computer-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/trello-on-desktop-computer-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/trello-on-desktop-computer.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Searching for a job can feel like a job in itself. You\u2019ll need to keep track of potential employers and jobs, applications both pending and complete, and the contacts you make as you try to further your career.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/trello.com\/\">Trello<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a fantastic organisational tool to help you manage your job hunt. It breaks down your search (or whatever project you\u2019re working on) into a board. This board is then divided into columns (known as lists) and tasks (known as cards) that pass along the columns from left to right.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, you could create one board to keep track of your current job applications. The application process could be split up into five lists: potential applications, application in progress, application submitted, interview scheduled, application rejected.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each job application is a card, which passes along the columns of the board from left to right.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can add details to the card so, if your application is unsuccessful, you can make notes on any feedback you get, for example.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It doesn\u2019t have to end there &#8211; you could create boards to organise recruiters or companies of interest, for example.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You have to be disciplined though as every bit of information must be entered by you into the system. If you commit to using it, it will help you.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Prepare for your interview<\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium wp-image-10754\" src=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/biginterview-laptop-300x175.png\" alt=\"biginterview-laptop\" width=\"300\" height=\"175\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/biginterview-laptop-300x175.png 300w, https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/biginterview-laptop-768x447.png 768w, https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/biginterview-laptop-1024x596.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/biginterview-laptop.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once your applications are underway, you\u2019ll need to prepare for the interview stage. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/get.biginterview.com\/welcome-2\/\">Big Interview<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a one-stop shop to improve your interview skills. It offers training and practice interviews to job seekers to help you build confidence, answer those unexpected questions and rock your interview.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you sign up, you can choose from a range of curricula to guide you through your interview prep. For example, the \u201cfast track\u201d curriculum will quickly cover essential tips and common questions, or you can sign up for the \u201cmastery track\u201d to get more in-depth advice for those ultra-competitive interviews. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can also do online industry-specific practice interviews, including competency-based questions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The site was developed by top interview coach Pamela Skillings, who spent 12 years as a senior human resources and marketing executive for big businesses including Morgan Stanley, MasterCard International and Citigroup.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s one of the most complete interview prep services out there. You can sign up for a seven-day trial, then there\u2019s a monthly fee of $25 for this service.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<div><em>Gemma Church is &#8220;the freelance writer who gets tech&#8221;, a specialist journalist, copywriter and blogger for the science and technology sectors. Follow her at<a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/geditorial_uk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-saferedirecturl=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?hl=en-GB&amp;q=https:\/\/mailtrack.io\/trace\/link\/85251ddca26cdc52e4a6810df228257355996b39?url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.twitter.com%252Fgeditorial_uk%26signature%3Dc4ab1c2c8306de10&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1486546410316000&amp;usg=AFQjCNERbtzsuPkcoJPNm4SAdH4BPZmPRQ\"> @geditorial_uk<\/a><\/em><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Job searching can be tough, but there are plenty of tools out there to help you. Here, technology writer Gemma Church picks out five of the best tools to help job seekers take the next step on their career path: \u00a0 In the noise of the online world, it seems impossible to stand out from<a class=\"moretag\" href=\"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/5-amazing-job-tools-to-try-right-now\/\"> Continued \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":58,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1109],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10753","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-finding-a-job"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10753","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/58"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10753"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10753\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10753"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10753"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.adzuna.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10753"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}